As the 2019 New Zealand Millennium Cup draws to a close in the Bay of Islands, we round up the best of the sailing action... After the 34 metre Royal Huisman Sassafras was forced to withdraw on the first day of racing, citing technical problems, just four competitors remained. Tawera, Freya, Silvertip and Thalia took to the water, jostling for first place. After a fraught first day of racing, Freya and Tawera were neck and neck.

After the 34 metre Royal Huisman Sassafras was forced to withdraw on the first day of racing, citing technical problems, just four competitors remained. Tawera, Freya, Silvertip and Thalia took to the water, jostling for first place. After a fraught first day of racing, Freya and Tawera were neck and neck.

Drama was in high supply during the fast and furious racing schedule, with close battles between Freya and Tawera, light winds delaying the final day's racing and Thalia receiving a time penalty on the second day after crossing the start line early.

Drama was in high supply during the fast and furious racing schedule, with close battles between Freya and Tawera, light winds delaying the final day's racing and Thalia receiving a time penalty on the second day after crossing the start line early.

Landmarks from the Bay of Islands, such as Tapeka Point and Ninepin Rock, provided the perfect racing milestones during the three-day racing event, which comprised the Orams Marine Race, NZ Marine Race and Boat International Race Day.

Landmarks from the Bay of Islands, such as Tapeka Point and Ninepin Rock, provided the perfect racing milestones during the three-day racing event, which comprised the Orams Marine Race, NZ Marine Race and Boat International Race Day.

After a hard fought three days of racing, the worthy winner at the end of the event was Tawera, which also won the Millennium Cup in 2017. The 28.1 metre yacht was built by Alloy Yachts and delivered in 1995.

After a hard fought three days of racing, the worthy winner at the end of the event was Tawera, which also won the Millennium Cup in 2017. The 28.1 metre yacht was built by Alloy Yachts and delivered in 1995.

The fierce competition

All photography by Jeff Brown/Breed Media

After the 34 metre Royal Huisman Sassafras was forced to withdraw on the first day of racing, citing technical problems, just four competitors remained. Tawera, Freya, Silvertip and Thalia took to the water, jostling for first place. After a fraught first day of racing, Freya and Tawera were neck and neck.

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